Don’t get caught! Protect yourself against phishing

Info Matters

Info Matters Episode 1 Show Notes: Don’t get caught! Protect yourself against phishing

Fred Carter is a senior policy and technology advisor with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). He has more than 20 years experience in the public and private sector, providing analysis and recommendations about privacy and security issues across the spectrum of privacy, technology, and law.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• What do terms like phishing, spear phishing, vishing, and smishing mean? [2:30]
• Why do people fall for these scams? [4:35]
• How common is this? Who is affected? [5:55]
• Phishing often leads to other kinds of fraud [7:25]
• Canadians are attractive targets and the pandemic has increased the risk [7:53]
• Why do scammers want your information? What can they do with it? [8:51]
• The dangers of spear phishing for organizations [11:00]
• Not just financial information at risk [11:45]
• What are some of the typical gimmicks scammers use? [12:38]
• Risks for seniors [14:35]
• Common signs of a phishing attempt [16:02]
• Simple things you can do to protect yourself from phishing [18:43]
• What can you do if you’ve fallen for a phishing scam? [23:30]
• Parting thoughts, helpful resources [26:24]

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Protect Against Phishing (IPC fact sheet)
• Anti-Phishing Working Group
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
• Don’t Take the Bait: Recognize and Avoid Phishing Attacks
• Consumer Protection Ontario

Info Matters is a podcast about people, privacy, and access to information hosted by Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. We dive into conversations with people from all walks of life and hear stories about the access and privacy issues that matter most to them.

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The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the IPC does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this podcast, and information from this podcast should not be used or reproduced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. None of the information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast bind the IPC’s Tribunal that may be called upon to independently investigate and decide upon an individual complaint or appeal based on the specific facts and unique circumstances of a given case.